On the evening of August 19, 2024, in the Powellhurst-Gilbert neighborhood of Southeast Portland, a tragic event unfolded that would cut a man's life short. Lorenzo U. Miranda, a 50-year-old Hispanic male, was in the parking lot of the Division Center, a strip mall located at Southeast 122nd Avenue and Division Street, when he was fatally shot. The incident occurred at approximately 7:35 p.m., a time when the area was still bustling.
East Precinct officers were dispatched to the scene
following reports of the shooting. Upon their arrival, they discovered Miranda with grave injuries. Paramedics were quick to respond and attempted life-saving measures, but tragically, he was pronounced dead at the scene. The Portland Police Bureau's Homicide Unit was called in to take over the investigation into what was soon determined by the Medical Examiner to be a homicide by a gunshot wound. In the days that followed, Miranda's family, while asking for privacy, provided a photograph of him to be released to the public.
Months after the fatal shooting, the investigation continues, but no arrests have been made and no suspects have been officially named. In an effort to generate new leads, the Portland Police Bureau released two photos of a person of interest. The images show an individual riding a bicycle near the time and location of the shooting. Authorities have urged anyone with information about this individual or the incident to come forward and contact the detectives assigned to the case.
The family of Lorenzo Miranda has been left grappling with the sudden and violent loss of their loved one. They have spoken out about their struggle with the lack of answers and arrests in the case. His sister, Maxine Miranda, and stepson, Matt Turnage, have shared their grief and their hope that the release of the person of interest's photos will lead to a breakthrough. They have described Miranda as a loving and caring man who had just turned 50 in March. A memorial for him continues to grow at the site of the shooting, a testament to the love and memory he left behind. The family continues to plead for anyone with information to speak up, hoping for justice and a sense of closure.
